John Pletz On Technology

Obamacare's silver lining for startups: opportunity

PlanMatcher Inc., a Web portal that allows users to compare health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act, won DePaul University's student business-plan competition this week, which was sponsored by the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center.

The company has raised $50,000, received $5,000 for winning the Launch DePaul competition this week. It's led by Christian Wells, an MBA student at DePaul and a former analyst at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois.

The portal aims to solve a challenge that consumers have had with the Affordable Care Act: trying to get accurate pricing, based on their individual needs. PlanMatcher says it's the only portal that allows users to plug one of five chronic illnesses into the expense calculator, to see which plan would be best if, say, you have diabetes.

Other Launch DePaul results:

Making Connections, which produces education/therapy kits for parents of children with autism, took second place and received $2,500. It was started by sisters Elizabeth Ames, a DePaul student, and Melissa Ames, a teacher.

BBands, a startup launched by two DePaul freshmen, placed third and received $1,000. It makes headbands for girls and women that don't slip off during exercise or sports.